Dolphins Aren't Ready To Write Off Ricky

Trying to recoup roughly $8.7 million isn't the route the Dolphins want to take with tailback Ricky Williams.

Because of language in his contract, the Dolphins have the right to pursue the reclaiming of a sizable chunk of the money Williams has earned in his five NFL years should he follow through on plans to retire.

But the Dolphins hold out hope that Williams will change his mind and have no immediate plans to place him on a reserve/retired list that would officially end his playing days.

"The contract is not the focal point with us right now," General Manager Rick Spielman said Tuesday night. "Those matters eventually take care of themselves. Our biggest focus is getting ready for training camp and what we have to get accomplished."

Agent Leigh Steinberg declined comment Tuesday on the issue. But an NFL source said Williams had been apprised that retiring could be costly before he told coach Dave Wannstedt on Friday of his intentions.

When his contract was restructured in September 2002, Williams agreed to provisions that would force him to pay back incentive money and bonuses in case he retired or held out.

An NFL source said the Dolphins could try to recoup $5.4 million they have paid Williams and another $3.3 million in prorated signing bonus. Williams received an $8.8 million signing bonus through his rookie contract with New Orleans in 1999.

Williams had not made further contact with the Dolphins as of Tuesday night and Steinberg said his client "feels great about his new life" away from football. Williams has spent the past week traveling extensively and appears to have no plans to report Friday night to the opening of camp.

Ex-Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders retired on the eve of the 1999 preseason, which was a stunning move at the time because he was still one of the NFL's top tailbacks and just 1,457 yards away from becoming the NFL's all-time leading rusher.

But in an interview Tuesday with the Associated Press, Sanders admitted he was "as surprised as anyone" by Williams' impending retirement.

"Even for me it seems very strange," said Sanders, whose abrupt decision to leave football at 31 was as highly scrutinized as Williams'.

"He's pretty young [27], but it always seemed like football wasn't the most important thing in his life. He didn't seem as excited about it as everyone else. I know in Miami, from friends I talk to, they saw him as a savior in Miami. Maybe he didn't see himself that way."

If he retires, Williams can receive $60,000 in severance pay through the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement. Steinberg said Tuesday that he has not filed the paperwork to collect the money.